Gautam Gambhir Puts His Weight Behind Mayank Agarwal Ahead Of Test Series Against New Zealand: After taking down New Zealanders in the T20I series by a handsome 5-0 margin, the Indian cricket team was completely demolished in the ODI series by 0-3. Now as the ‘Men in Blue’ are all set to lock horns with New Zealand in the two-match Test series from February 2, it will prove to be a decider as to which team will emerge on top of the series and have the last laugh.
Ahead of the series, there has been a debate going around for quite some time, regarding who should open the game for India as the regular opener Rohit Sharma has been ruled out of the playing XI after he suffered a calf-injury in the fifth T20 against New Zealand. The former Indian cricketer Gautam Gambhir has backed Mayan Agarwal to open the series for India.
Recently, in a column for TOI, Gautam Gambhir pointed out how Mayank Agarwal is a different opener from the likes of David Warner and Virender Sehwag, but he has a clarity of mind as an opener. He wrote:
“I have a lot of faith in Mayank Agarwal. He may not be the most gifted going around but he is certainly the most organized. He will not treat bowlers with disdain like Virender Sehwag or a David Warner did but has the clarity of mind of an opening batsman,”
The cricketer also expressed his excitement towards watching the young players — either Prithvi Shaw or Shubman Gil open for Team India and take up the new challenge. He wrote:
“We will have a new pair opening the batting for India. It will interesting to see how Prithvi Shaw or Shubhman Gill react to opportunities as and when they get,”
